Was looking for ways to reduce the risk of getting colorectal cancer (due to family history) and found this abstract that mentions about breast cancer as well. Wondered about the time of data collection. Why do they publish the result of a study originated in the 90's? Were the cancer incidents reported back then or 10+ years afterwards?

This study assesses the association between dietary transfatty acid (TFA) intake and the risk of selected cancers. Mailed questionnaires were completed between 1994 and 1997 in eight Canadian provinces by 1182 incident, histologically confirmed cases of the stomach, 1727 of the colon, 1447 of the rectum, 628 of the pancreas, 3341 of the lung, 2362 of the breast, 442 of the ovary, 1799 of the prostate, 686 of the testis, 1345 of the kidney, 1029 of the bladder, 1009 of the brain, 1666 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 1069 leukemias, and 5039 population controls.

Information on dietary habits and nutrition intake was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire, which provided data on eating habits 2 years before the study. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived by unconditional logistic regression to adjust for total energy intake and other potential confounding factors. Dietary TFA was positively associated with the risk of cancers of the colon (OR: 1.38 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile), breast in premenopause (OR: 1.60), and prostate (OR: 1.42). There were a borderline association for pancreas cancer (OR: 1.38; P=0.06).

No significant association was observed for cancers of the stomach, rectum, lung, ovary, testis, kidney, bladder, brain, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and leukemia, although the ORs for the highest quartile were above unity for all neoplasms considered, except testis. Our findings add evidence that high TFA is associated with an increased risk of various cancers. Thus, a diet low in transfat may play a role in the prevention of several cancers.

TanyaRD

07-16-2011, 05:17 AM

Jackie07,
I don't know why they would publish such old data. This was prior to labeling laws for Trans Fats in the US which took place in 2006. Since then most companies have done away with trans fats in their products, although they are still out there in many items and restaurant foods. Those that have been removed from products have often been replaced with saturated fats. I have no doubt, however, that trans fats are cancer promoting likely due to the inflammatory process they are thought to trigger.